How to properly prep engine cover for painting? need tips please!

[iScottyyyyyyyyy]

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[Bonanza7]

Use dish detergent, scrub with a toothbrush. Let dry really good. If you sand it, I did not, the texture will end up uneven, unless you are REALLY good at it!. Wash with alcohol, let dry. Prime and paint. I used regular Krylon. It doesn't get hot enough under the hood to cause a problem. Had mine painted for over a year, in AZ heat, and it looks like new. I masked it and used Yellow and Silver. masking is a bitch with all the corners and crevices.

[camaroitalia]

so no sanding at all? thats what i was wondering because its already a rough surface to start. no sanding between coats either?

[KEEP RT]

First step is to de-wax and de-grease!!! Make it super clean in ALL the nooks and cranies. From hear on you'll get allot of different answers. Good luck.

[Bonanza7]

I did no sanding, and Keep RT is right. Some use degreaser, I used dish soap. Whichever you use, do it right. Better than getting fish-eyes and having to do it again, and again! I would have sanded to make it smooth and shiny, but wasn't interested in going to all that work. So far, no chips and no fading. I did 3 coats, and no clear coat.

[camaroitalia]

can u post a pic for me please

[Bonanza7]

Originally Posted by camaroitalia

can u post a pic for me please

I have tried, repeatedly, to post pictures to this site, and have never been sucessful. Sorry about that! I am not a computer geek, and just haven't been able to get it done. The center part is yellow, and the outer parts are silver. Masked off the bow-tie circle, so it is still black. Looks just like the ones you can buy for $150-$200. Cost me $15. Good luck. If you mess it up, no big deal, just use brake cleaner and the paint comes right off...Just wash it right after so it doesn't get to the plastic cover.

[Bonanza7]

Originally Posted by iScottyyyyyyyyy

sounds good! ill probably put in 1 clear coat jussssssssssst to be safe! thank you!

if you are going to use silver, like I did, you might find that the clear coat changes the coloring. Maybe try a small sample on another piece of plastic to see if you like it.

[camaroitalia]

Originally Posted by Bonanza7

I have tried, repeatedly, to post pictures to this site, and have never been sucessful. Sorry about that! I am not a computer geek, and just haven't been able to get it done. The center part is yellow, and the outer parts are silver. Masked off the bow-tie circle, so it is still black. Looks just like the ones you can buy for $150-$200. Cost me $15. Good luck. If you mess it up, no big deal, just use brake cleaner and the paint comes right off...Just wash it right after so it doesn't get to the plastic cover.

ok thanks anyway man. i may give this a shot this week...

[KEEP RT]

Clear coat is for more than just shine. It usually is used as a protectent. I'd do no less than 2 coats. Even though it is under the hood there will be petroleum byproducts and other " ROAD CRAP" that base coats aren't meant to handle. Clear coats also enhance the color of the base paint. On this one the orange is the first color laid down. Then I used "fine line" tape to mask off the narrow orange boarder and blue for the larger orange area. Then black over the orange. Two coats of each color. Then ever so lightly went over with 1200 grit on the boarders to smooth them out. Then the clear. smooths it right out. Best of luck.

[Bonanza7]

Originally Posted by KEEP RT

Clear coat is for more than just shine. It usually is used as a protectent. I'd do no less than 2 coats. Even though it is under the hood there will be petroleum byproducts and other " ROAD CRAP" that base coats aren't meant to handle. Clear coats also enhance the color of the base paint. On this one the orange is the first color laid down. Then I used "fine line" tape to mask off the narrow orange boarder and blue for the larger orange area. Then black over the orange. Two coats of each color. Then ever so lightly went over with 1200 grit on the boarders to smooth them out. Then the clear. smooths it right out. Best of luck.

Looks real nice

[NYJets77]

Originally Posted by Bonanza7

I did no sanding, and Keep RT is right. Some use degreaser, I used dish soap. Whichever you use, do it right. Better than getting fish-eyes and having to do it again, and again! I would have sanded to make it smooth and shiny, but wasn't interested in going to all that work. So far, no chips and no fading. I did 3 coats, and no clear coat.

this. I used Dawn to wash it, and Krylon for Plastic, and no primer.

[heRS]

You might want to buy a can of adhesion promoter too, because paint doesn't always stick well to plastic. You apply that after you've cleaned and wiped down with alcohol, before you apply primer.
Mine turned out well

[Fast Eddie 76]

I just did mine too. No sanding, just proper degreasing and washing with rubbing alcohol at the start. And I found that using an adhesion promoter before applying the first coat of primer helped as well. In total, 2 coats of adhesion promoter, 3 coats of primer, four coats of paint and four coats of clear.